Arsene Wenger says he’s hopeful that Alexis Sanchez will be available for this weekend’s trip to Watford, but admitted that the groin problem he went away with may have been worsened by playing two games for Chile.
The Chilean faces a fitness test on his arrival back in London, with the manager eager to avoid exacerbating the issue which he picked up during the 3-0 twatting of Manchester United on October 4th.
The Frenchman admitted he’s essentially powerless to stop him playing for his country, even if he does have fitness problems.
“I cannot do a lot about it,” he said. “He came off as you have seen against Manchester United with a hip problem, a problem with the rotator muscle and he wanted to go.
“He played in the last two games and we have to see how he comes back but it is always a tricky situation Chile are trying to qualify for the World Cup and he is an important player for them but they will use him if they can.
“Let’s see what happens. He comes back at 2pm today and I don’t think there is a lot you can do because he played. We have to see if we have to protect him in our next game or not.”
There’s a strong argument to be made that the Watford game is far more important than the Bayern game despite the gap in prestige between the two opponents, so hopefully Alexis can make it for the weekend.
The manager also confirmed the availability of both Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini; revealed that Jack Wilshere could be back in training inside a month; and that Danny Welbeck’s return will be some time in the new year at the earliest.
Would prefer him off the bench than getting injured.
But he is the Duracell bunny, hard to stop him playing.
Alexis is a robot. He will be fine!
Definitely need to rest him if he has any issue at all with his groin. Every match is a big match, especially the away ones, but if we don’t have the ability to beat Watford without him starting then we surely won’t compete for the title. Chance for Chamberlin to come in after scoring for England or maybe even play Carzola wide and bring Arteta in alonside Coquelin as another option.
Or Giroud in and Walcott wide and Ramsey on left for this game only.
CAZORLA, dammit!
If Wenger doesn’t trust Campbell then he should have looked for a replacement.
Now in this situation, we could have more easily given the break to Alexis.
If Alexis starts on Sat, we can’t be complaining about Chile playing him!
Super Jack Wilshere back training in the next month. Love it.
I dare say he would have won back his place in the starting XI with Ramsey struggling to find the back of the net.
Definitely agree. Wilshere was in a very good form when he got injured. I remembered a game for England where he launched missiles into top corner twice in the same game.
Arsene “Smokescreen” Wenger
Yeeessssss Jack back when we start to increase the point gap at the top, Champions League is STILL on
Will personally volunteer to apply the deep heat to lexi’s groin ?
Off topic.
Happy birthday Mesut.
I changed my chameleon’s name to Mesut in your honour.
Inside a month is a really nice way to avoid the dreaded “three weeks.” Wenger stepping up his PR game.
Alexis will play; I just know he will. Arsene will think of resting him but immediately he walks through the door, the mere sight of him will make the manager think twice about benching him. He wants to play and there nothing the groin or the manager can do about it.
Sanchez is a very agile player but that not withstanding he deservers a rest taking his achile position into consideration. Body must not be cheated.
He’s better rested now than when it will be out of hand.
A stich in time saves nine.
He hasn’t got a stitch as well now, has he?
I remember when I used to worry about the fitness of Henry, Pires, Vierra, Sol, Bergkamp and others.
The feeling is back; I guess it happens when you have world-class players in the team – game changers and winners – like
Alexis – Ozil – Cazorla – Koscielny – Cech.
When Pires was on goal scoring spree and got injured for the rest of the season, ljungberg replaced him and scored even more and we won the title. So you are saying we are getting back to that situation?
Yes we are getting back there…not there yet!
Hector!
I remember when I used to worry and fret about the fitness of Henry, Pires, Vierra, Sol, Bergkamp and other invincibles.
The feeling is back; I guess it happens when you have world-class players in the team – game changers and winners – like
Alexis – Ozil – Cazorla – Koscielny – Cech.
It’ll be good to see Danny Welbeck back too. He seems to get forgotten — it was surprising not to hear his absence mentioned during the recent England internationals. I believe he has at least as much potential for his country as Sturridge, who is the media favourite.
The news of Jack’s recovery is very good and even sweeter for me. My son is 1 month old, but since he was born, I have made sure all his stuff are red and white and gone as far as forbidding his mom from buying anything blue for him. Back to Jack, today I went to get some new sports gear to hit the gym and abort the pregnancy that I have been developing and found this shop selling these beautiful Miniature footballer figurines. I wanted to get an Alexis figurine for my son, but it was sold out, there… Read more »
Your friend was bemused that you left a Cristina figurine behind? 😛
Wilshere over Cristina every day!
Nice story Bro! I’ve always worried about our players coming back fit and healthy. I hate to admit but I remember being worried about that twat RvP picking up a knock and being out for the rest of the season.
That exceptional little man is a big sack of bolts banged up with some nitroglycerin! He will not be stopped!!
I watched the 6th day recently and there’s a part where a football player breaks his spine then is back playing the next week. They cloned him and discarded the injured one and nobody ever knew. This technology seemed so far off it didn’t warrant thinking further about.
But then we signed alexis.
I’ve concluded that This man is superhuman (or a clone)